Contact:
Nathan Driskell
(325) 673-4587
marketing@thegracemuseum.org

Centennial keepsake cookbook includes historical accounts, rare photographs and community recipe submissions celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Grace

ABILENE, Texas (October 6, 2009) – What did the Grace Coffee Shop serve on Sunday, February 12, 1933? Which of her recipes particularly delighted the descendants of Grace Beckham, after whom the Hotel Grace was named? How do you prepare snails for a delicious dish? Or dinosaur stew? Which of our city leaders spent their childhood playing billiards in the basement of this historic structure? How did Abilene muster the money and sheer grit to save the wrecked building in 1986?

All the answers are found in The Grace Museum's newly released keepsake cookbook, The Amazing Grace: 1909-2009. Published in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the historic building that is now home to The Grace Museum, the book includes fascinating first-hand memories of experiences in and about the building through the decades, memories of Grace Beckham from her grandchildren, historic photographs of the building, and details of the extraordinary renovation project.

This centennial project by Los Aficionados, the volunteer support group of The Grace Museum, attracted over 500 recipe submissions, with 316 ultimately selected for publication. The committee worked for an entire year on the project under the direction of Judy Godfrey. Committee members included Vicky Doss, Patricia Ditmore, Betty Nelson, Glenda Ravanelli, Nancy Ruzinsky, Susan Shelton and Jamie Villegas. Significant contributions came from Grace Museum Chief Curator Judy Deaton, and Grace Museum Marketing Manager Nathan Driskell. Steve Butman provided his services on the cover image and photographs. Copies of The Amazing Grace: 1909-2009 keepsake cookbook can be purchased at The Grace Museum for $25 each. Proceeds from the sales directly benefit The Grace Museum's operating budget.

The Grace Museum is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and houses a children’s museum, history museum, and art museum. At 55,000 square feet, The Grace Museum is the tenth largest general museum in Texas, and is the cornerstone of cultural arts and education in West Texas. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Grace Museum is a non-profit organization, and the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs are supported in part by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, the City of Abilene, Taylor County, and the Downtown Revitalization Program of the Tax Increment Finance District.

The Grace Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Thursday. Admission is free Thursday evening after 5 p.m.

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